YORKTON, Sask. — The Parkland Valley District of the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association is working to rebuild participation across a large area of east-central Saskatchewan following several years of declining participation.
Members gathered in Yorkton on Oct. 29 for the district's annual general meeting and reorganization effort, where volunteers outlined plans to recruit members, revive local events and reconnect older adults through sport, recreation and social activities.
The Parkland Valley District is one of nine districts operating under the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association umbrella and includes communities throughout the Yorkton, Melville and Parkland areas. The district stretches from Hudson Bay and Porcupine Plain in the north to Esterhazy and Langenburg in the south, and includes communities such as Yorkton, Melville, Canora, Kamsack, Sturgis, Preeceville, Theodore, Springside, Foam Lake, Wadena, Raymore, Buchanan and surrounding areas.
District president David Wieman said the organization had remained largely dormant in recent years despite once being one of the province's most active districts.
"It never really dissolved. It just sat in a mode of nothing happening," Wieman said.
The decline has been noticeable. Wieman said the district once regularly sent between 60 and 100 participants to provincial competitions, with some advancing to national events. Last year, only six competitors from the district attended the Saskatchewan 55 Plus Games in Swift Current.
"When I heard that, I was just sad, frustrated, embarrassed, all of it," he said. "I said, no, we've got to get this going. This is a beautiful district."
The Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association offers activities for adults aged 55 and older, with opportunities ranging from competitive sports to recreational pursuits. Events include pickleball, swimming, five-pin bowling, curling, cribbage, bridge and a variety of track-and-field disciplines such as running, ball throw and triple jump. Organizers say the focus is on participation, friendship and active living, rather than athletic achievement alone. Additional activities can also be added if there is sufficient interest from members, allowing districts to adapt programming to local interests.
Organizers are also open to exploring new activities suggested by members when there is sufficient interest.
Rather than focusing on elite competition, Wieman said the organization welcomes participants of all abilities.
"I just love the whole spirit of it," he said. "Anybody can come."
District events serve as the entry point for participants. Competitors may choose to remain at the district level or advance to provincial games, which are held in odd-numbered years. Participants who qualify at provincials can then advance to national games, which take place in even-numbered years.
"The beauty about this whole thing is you can stay at the district level, wide open to anybody," Wieman said. "We can go on to provincials or we can go to nationals."
He said provincial competitions typically attract around 450 participants, while national events have drawn more than 1,000 competitors from across Canada.
For many participants, the games are about much more than competition.
"When I go to nationals and I see an 85- or 90-year-old lining up to go for the 50-metre run, how can that not be inspirational?" Wieman said.
Track-and-field events can include activities such as running, ball throw and triple jump, while other events range from card games to recreation-based competitions. Participants can compete at whatever level suits them best, whether that means staying local or advancing through the provincial and national levels.
Supporting the district's efforts is Jan Cochrane, a social prescribing community connector whose work focuses on reducing loneliness and social isolation among older adults.
She said helping seniors become involved in community activities can improve both physical and mental well-being.
"If we have these opportunities, it would be great to keep older adults active because we know that what you don't use, you lose," Cochrane said. "We can hopefully keep people active all their life."
Membership in the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association costs $10 annually, with $5 remaining in the district and $5 supporting the provincial organization. Memberships can be purchased online through the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association website or at district events.
Residents interested in participating, volunteering or learning more about the Parkland Valley District can contact Wieman at 1-639-928-7377.
"We're open to anybody," Wieman said. "We've got to get this going again."
